International desk – Three people have been killed after a gunman attacked a shopping mall in Washington of the United States, the authorities said on Friday.

A gunman is on the loose after the attack that also left two others wounded Friday night at a mall in Burlington, according to a CNN report.

Sgt. Mark Francis, a spokesman for the state patrol, initially said four people were killed, but later revised that number to three.

All three were women, he said, and one man was transported to a hospital with severe injuries. Another man received non-life threatening injuries.

“We have one adult male victim from the Burlington mall shooting who arrived by air this evening to Harborview Medical Center at approximately 9:30 p.m. He is in critical condition,” said hospital spokeswoman Susan Gregg.

Police are sweeping stores in Cascade Mall, searching for at least one shooter, Francis said.

Authorities released a photo of a man believed to be the gunman.

“Here is the shooter. We believe just one shooter. … Armed with rifle,” Francis tweeted.

He said police are “actively searching for suspect, tracking leads.”

Washington State Trooper Rick Johnson said they had reports of the suspect “walking toward the freeway, had reports of him behind… some buildings, they’re canvassing the area right now, and … (he) has not been located at this time.”

The three people killed were inside Macy’s, Francis said.

In a tweet, Francis warned residents to avoid the mall and to follow road closures. He said survivors would be transported by bus to a nearby church.